CT Weddings

Hello,My fiance and I have decided to have a wedding in CT. We are considering a Christmas wedding in 2010 or a summer wedding. If in the summer would like to find someplace on the water. Any creative suggestions or ideas? We will have a lot of guest from out of town, so would love to show them the best that CT has to offer. Any ideas would be appreciated.Thanks,

Congrats! I have found that price, food quality, location had been great at Anthony's Ocean View in New Haven. They are known for the over abundance of food that they put out. You are literally right on the water looking over Long Island Sound. Makes for nice pictures. I've attended several wine tastings held there and the food is the same as they were doing a wedding for 400 people.

The Water's Edge Resort in Westbrook, on the L.I. Sound, is upscale, classy, and very, very experienced at turning out weddings. It's not the very best that Connecticut has to offer, but it's close. The accommodations are outstanding. Downside is that some of the buzz on Chow is negative re: their banquet food, so menu would have to be tasted and selected carefully.

This problem is often the fault of the bride or other person who orders the food. Of course, there are a few unscrupulous operators who'll actually skimp to the extent it becomes obvious to the guests. However, I cringe when I'm at *any* function and people go hungry. Invariably, when asked about the empty chafing dishes, etc., the staff will inform you that "that's all the food the client ordered."

CORRECT...I'm used to going to Anthony's and the never ending abundance of food that comes out of that kitchen. I've never seen an empty chafing dish at an Anthony's function no matter what the size of the group.

I am recently married and had my reception at the Hartford Boathouse right on the CT river--we had a great time and it was relatively inexpensive in comparasion to other places by a body of water. We attended a reception at Water's Edge in August and it was beautiful but can be very expensive.

I just attended an event yesterday at the Water's Edge and although the place is beautiful the food that they passed around was not good at all. Of course, it all depends on the people paying and obviously in this case, who ever paid the bill was looking for the cheap way out.

We had our reception at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk. Hors d'Oeuvres and cocktails are held in the winding, aquarium exhibits section, which include the large shark tank and a staffed touch tank. When dinner is served, the hostess directs everyone across an overhead walkway and down the staircase to the main hall where the dining tables and dance floor are arranged. The bride and groom make the same entrance, walking down the stairs into the middle of the dining area.

The Aquarium contracts with a caterer, and has an event coordinator that handles that relationship. My wife and her family are heavily into boating, fishing, maritime, etc. so this was a location which reflected that.

A few years ago my niece had a lovely wedding at the Carousel at Lighthouse point park, http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/Parks/P... which necessitates hiring a caterer. She hired Cusanos from Hamden http://www.merchantcircle.com/busines... , and it was a really, really nice reception. The only issues are that there is no actual kitchen there, so all has to be trucked in cooked, and the bathrooms are in a separate building. but, it is a unique location, right on the water and the 'reception room' is much larger than you would think.

Lighthouse park is a great choice. You will need to get a caterer, but that will give you plenty of options for food that is your taste and not part of a cookie cutter menu.If you are looking for Christmas time, consider the Wadsworth Mansion in Middletown. Fabulous location that will require your own caterer as well.

I have a million more ideas, but I am a wedding planner so I don't want to give away too much for free :)